Pages

Monday, May 26, 2008

Glorious Paoay

Paoay is home of North Luzon's most famous church - Paoay Church. It was built in classic earthquake baroque style, with massive brick reinforcements running along its sides. Its walls are made of thick coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks, sealed with a mixture of limestone mortar and sugarcane juice. The church was built in 1704 and was finished 90 years later. It has Gothic, Chinese and Japanese influences.What is striking about Paoay Church is that unlike other beautiful churches in the region, it is not encroached upon by shops, schools or any commercial establishments. The church and the belfry stands in wide-open square revealing all its splendour and glory.

Here are photos I have taken of the awesome church:

UNESCO named Paoay Church a World Heritage site in 1993.

The bell of the Belfry tolled when we were there.

Massive columns of the church.

The beautiful stone carvings and statues on the church' front.

A picture of splendour and glory.

After being awed by the sight of the church, it is time for our taste buds to experience new things. I have heard so much about the Pinakbet Pizza that it is a must to taste it. Just right across the Paoay Church is Herencia Café - home of the famous Pinakbet Pizza. Herencia is a restaurant that aims to remain as faithful to the traditional Ilocano cuisine by offering and serving authentic Ilocano dishes like pinakbet, igado, and bagnet among others.

Pinakbet Pizza is a fusion of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese spread in a thin crust and topped by pinakbet vegetables like eggplant, ampalaya, okra, sitaw, and some kind of meat like bagnet or longganisa. And if these are not enough, you have an option to put anchovies or bagoong just before you eat it. My verdict? Tastes good.

And of course, the Pinakbet Pizza is best ordered with Bagnet. Bagnet is locally known as chicharon or deep-fried pork. This tasty treat is a must eat for all Ilocos visitors. Just do it in moderation though 'cause it is high in fat and cholesterol and has heart attach written all over it.

The sight and the taste of Paoay. Definitely a must-place to include in your Ilocos itinerary.

Thanks for commenting in my blog... Your point is so nice.... Kindly add my blog into your blogroll and keep in touch in my blog.... I added yours in my blog under the "Blogspot Seleries" list.. Check it out and have a nice day!!!!

The church speaks volumes about the history of the place. I would love to visit Paoay one of these days.

Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments. It's been a while but I hope to visit your blog more regularly. A lot of things have happened in my so called life, which prevented me from being more active online. Enjoy the week ahead!

Hi LawstudeIt as been a while since I dropped by for a good read and a visual feast. I came to thank you for your comment on my Horse Chestnut Tree, but as with many blogs I send time them catching up and feeling guilty for not coming by all the time. :O) I'm sure you know what I mean my friend. All the best to you.BTW.. I do like the pictures with the cartoon faces drawn on them.

I have a photo taken in front of Paoay Church and it was one of my favorites. The church really looks adorable. I tried bagnet but haven't tasted pinakbet pizza. I should try it next time. Thanks for sharing.

@ collapsingbarrycade - i agree. the north has so much history in them. and it never runs out of interesting places too from the coast of zambales to lingayen gulf, from ilocos to the cordilleras. and don't forget batanes. just so many places here to explore.

vanny - i have a poster of this place and dreamt of going there. and ng makarating ako doon, mas maganda kesa sa poster at di ka magsisisi kahit mahaba travel. and of course, the pinakbet pizza is just a surplusage.

hi lawstude, honestly, i was so thrilled when I saw your shots of Paoay. When did you go there? I was just there last week for the first time and I also went there to shoot. It's so beautiful, isn't it?

@ dailyphotographer - i aws there may 18th. and the first thing i said when i saw the whole landscape was WOW ANG GANDA!!!. i remember to have taken some shots inside the church but i can't seem to find it. maybe, the church wants me to go back there.

Of all the churches we saw in Ilocos, Church of Paoay was my favorite - a definite must-see.I truly recommend stopping by this little town just to check out this old, crumbling, beautiful relic from our past. Thanks for sharing this Lawstude, it brought back memories of my summer a couple of years ago.

Wow, Lawstude, your blog is magnificent, thanks for visiting mine, I loved scrolled down your photos and description of your beautiful country, I have never been there, but I think we should go and visit it one day, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home country with us.

SUPPORT...

Photos Featured

Photo Featured

My Blog Awards

Member

Feeds

Subscribe To

all photos and articles are properties of atty. oman a.k.a lawstude. i know my rights and know how to use them. if you are interested in these photos, please e-mail me at oman[underscore]serapio[at]yahoo[dot]com.